Emily is 12

Last year before we have two teenagers in the house!  Emily had a great 12th birthday with her friends this year.  She invited four of her good friends to go skating at Skateville in Burnsville and then stay for an overnighter.  Skating was lots of fun despite Amelia, who already has a broken arm, falling on her face to save her arm, and getting a bloody lip 5 minutes after we got there,  I hadn't even got my skates on and Brian came over to tell me what had happened. :)  Amelia was a trooper though and had a good time despite.  

Emily

Amelia and Grace

Ella and Mia

I love that Emily doesn't really like cake.  She always picks good desserts or ice cream instead.  This year she chose Cream Puff dessert  It was soooooo good!

All the girls....Brian was so outnumbered!

I so appreciate Emily.  She has a kind heart and most of the time puts others before herself.  Especially her friends and little sisters.  She's a smart cookie even though she doesn't give herself alot of credit.  She's very musical and even though she sometimes complains about practicing she deep down loves to play her trumpet and piano.  She's helpful when she wants to be and if she's in the right mood and not when she's not.  Emily is who she is.  Its going to be an interesting ride with her!

They so love each other!!

New Years Eve 2014

Saying good bye to 2014 and welcoming 2015!

We hosted our annual New Years Eve party and had 8 families here.  It was alot of people and alot of fun!  Caitlin made up teams for Minute to Win It which we played throughout the night.  She also hung up countdown balloons which the kids popped and then screamed or giggled.  The adults enjoyed beer and wine tastings along with cheese pairings.  It was different but fun and yummy!  Surprisingly there wasn't alot of alcohol left at the end of the night!  

I wish I would have gotten a picture of the wine/beer/cheese setting.  It was pretty cool/fun.  I think we had 8 different wines and 8 different beer along with the cheese that pair well with each of them.  

Elli getting ready to pop a balloon

Michael wrestling a balloon

The boys and Rachel playing wii

Dance Party!!!

The older girls taking a break from the noise downstairs and playing games

Makayla reading to Caleb - so sweet

The youngest guest - Kellen - had too much partying!

It's almost time!!!!!  2015 here we come!!

Camden is ready for bed!!!  His little brother Colvin could probably go another hour!

Makayla wants to keep partying!!

Christmas with the Salfer's and the Moore's

Christmas celebrations with cousins, aunts, uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas are the best!  How lucky we are to have such great families to hang out with.  The kids simply love to play with all their cousins.  

The crew of grandkids and two great grandkids

Charlene is super organized-here she is in action

And the finished product.  Gifts on the floor are from Godparents arranged by family and age

Gifts on the table are from Grandpa and Grandma arranged by family and age.

It really is a gift/talent that she has and all of us really do appreciate it even if we razz her about it.

Some of the girls cousins.   Teenagers!!!!!

Grandpa explaining to Spencer how he lost two of his fingers.  Spencer's reaction was priceless!

Uncle Mike- AKA "The keeper of the Bows"

Lauren LOVES her grandpas!  How sweet is this???

At Grandpa and Grandma Moore's house.  Lauren had a bit of fever but was a good trooper thru it all.

Very excited to get a brand new baby

Its Elsa and Anna for Natalie!!

Lauren with her other favorite Grandpa

Its kind of funny, but she goes to the Gpa before the Gmas everytime we see them!

The Grandpa's just eat it up!

Miss Mya-sometimes boxes are better than presents

Moore family Minute to Win It!  Fun!!!

We were really excited even though it doesn't look like it in this picture

Christmas Day!!!!!

It's so exciting to hear the girls come downstairs in the morning, loudly whispering what they think they may have gotten from Santa.  Little squeals of excitement is always fun to hear.  The hard part is waiting for everyone to wake up, mainly Lauren, Brian and I.  But while they wait they do go peek in their stockings.

Lauren was happy to get her Kitty Piano

All Natalie wanted was the Friends Lego Mall-Super excited!!

Rachel figured it out right away...she's such a little stinker!  She got an electric scooter which I didn't get a picture of out of the box.

 More Legos for this eager builder!  Super pumped to build it all on her own.  Didn't have to share this one!

And if you didn't hear Caitlin's screams of pure Joy when she opened up her new iPhone I'm surprised!  This is all she talked about all year long....So what comes with her phone is also new responsibility.  :)  And more chores to pay for her portion of the bill :)

All that remains....paper everywhere!

Afternoon fun....Natalie said Caitlin could help her build Legos

Emily has a long way to go!!

Rachel helping me with my present.  I also got a Lego set...Super fun!

Christmas Eve

First off, I love the fact that we can spend Christmas together as a family and can create traditions that the girls look forward to every year.  Thanks to our parents for realizing how important that is.  I love finding coordinating outfits for our whole family.  Usually I choose one outfit as my inspiration and build from there.  It is however getting harder because some of my daughters are becoming quite picky and don't want to wear dresses or certain colors.  I'm just happy that I don't forget anyone, because sometimes I don't count too well. :)  This year we went with Lauren's dress.  Can't go wrong with traditional Christmas colors!  Plus I found this adorable dress for Natalie she just had to wear.  I think we all cleaned up pretty well!

At mass Emily and Rachel sang in the choir, Lauren almost puked and Natalie fell asleep and was snoring very loud.  Everyone around us had to have gotten nothing out of mass.  But it makes for good memories!

After mass, we headed home to make homemade pizzas.  Yummo!  The girls always love creating their own special pizza.  Everyone doesn't have a problem with cleaning up afterward because their presents await them.  Kind of wish they'd get excited every night when I ask them to clear the table.

Yes...for those of you who thought Brian looked crabby on our Christmas card, he wasn't.  From the picture above you will see that most of the time I don't have much to choose from.  This is what I see everyday people!!!!!!!

On to the presents....PJS!  Brand new PJS!  We get so excited for this every year!  Why?  The girls have been accustomed to me making this a theme so to speak.  Seriously, what have I done to myself???  The stress!!!!!!!  Well, it was obvious that this year had to be based on "Frozen".  Who doesn't like Elsa and Anna????  I think they were a hit for everyone.  I was even able to find Olaf pants for Brian.  And my new motto for the year is on my PJ shirt....yes, "Let it go"

Things got a little crazy after getting our pjs.  Brian was reading the kids their new book and none of them were listening.  And he was reading very slow and articulate.  And then there's his outfit..who is really going to take him seriously anyway?

Not exactly sure what Natalie was doing but she gave us a good belly laugh.  The snow boots really make the outfit!

Then the girls were excited to give Dad a present.  He always acts over the top excited and curious which they all love.  He was VERY VERY excited for some new work dress shoes!

I think Lauren is ready to go to school.  She's so nice to raise her hand to open one of the family presents.  What a good kid!  For our family presents we received the game Scattergories, 2 Christmas DVD's, a kids Christmas song CD, a puzzle of Mackinaw Island, a snowman story book and nativity play set (for natalie and lauren while we play scattergories)